U.S. patent application number 14/840154 was filed with the patent office on 2017-03-02 for electrocardiogram (ecg) sensor chip, system on chip (soc), and wearable appliance.
The applicant listed for this patent is YUN CHEOL HAN, WON HYUK JUNG, JUNG SU KIM, HYUNG JONG KO, YONG IN PARK, SEUNG CHUL SHIN. Invention is credited to YUN CHEOL HAN, WON HYUK JUNG, JUNG SU KIM, HYUNG JONG KO, YONG IN PARK, SEUNG CHUL SHIN.
Application Number | 20170055869 14/840154 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55976743 |
Filed Date | 2017-03-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170055869 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SHIN; SEUNG CHUL ; et
al. |
March 2, 2017 |
ELECTROCARDIOGRAM (ECG) SENSOR CHIP, SYSTEM ON CHIP (SoC), AND
WEARABLE APPLIANCE
Abstract
An ECG sensor chip used in a wearable appliance includes; a
switch controlled by a switching signal, an amplifier that
amplifies a difference between first and second ECG signals, and a
location indicator that generates the switching signal. The switch
passes either a first ECG signal or second ECG signal in response
to the switching signal.
Inventors: |
SHIN; SEUNG CHUL; (SEOUL,
KR) ; KO; HYUNG JONG; (SEONGNAM-SI, KR) ; KIM;
JUNG SU; (YONGIN-SI, KR) ; PARK; YONG IN;
(SEOUL, KR) ; JUNG; WON HYUK; (YONGIN-SI, KR)
; HAN; YUN CHEOL; (YONGIN-SI, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SHIN; SEUNG CHUL
KO; HYUNG JONG
KIM; JUNG SU
PARK; YONG IN
JUNG; WON HYUK
HAN; YUN CHEOL |
SEOUL
SEONGNAM-SI
YONGIN-SI
SEOUL
YONGIN-SI
YONGIN-SI |
|
KR
KR
KR
KR
KR
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
55976743 |
Appl. No.: |
14/840154 |
Filed: |
August 31, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 5/746 20130101;
A61B 5/6803 20130101; A61B 5/0404 20130101; A61B 5/04288 20130101;
A61B 5/04325 20130101; A61B 5/681 20130101; A61B 5/6824 20130101;
A61B 5/6833 20130101; A61B 5/7225 20130101; A61B 5/0456
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61B 5/0428 20060101
A61B005/0428; A61B 5/00 20060101 A61B005/00 |
Claims
1. An electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor chip configured for use in a
wearable appliance and comprising: a switch controlled by a
switching signal and including a first switch input that receives a
first ECG signal, a second switch input that receives a second ECG
signal, a first switch output, and a second switch output; an
amplifier including a first amplifier input that receives one of
the first ECG signal and the second ECG signal from the first
switch output and a second amplifier input that receives the other
one of the first ECG signal and the second ECG signal from the
second switch output, and amplifies a difference between the first
ECG signal and second ECG signal; and a location indicator that
generates the switching signal in one of a first state and a second
state, wherein in response to the first state of the switching
signal, the switch passes the first ECG signal from the first
switch input to the first switch output and passes the second ECG
signal from the second switch input to the second switch output,
and in response to the second state of the switching signal, the
switch passes the first ECG signal from the first switch input to
the second switch output and passes the second ECG signal from the
second switch input to the first switch output.
2. The ECG sensor chip of claim 1, wherein the location indicator
comprises a switch signal generator that generates the switching
signal in one of the first state and the second state in response
to an indication signal.
3. The ECG sensor chip of claim 2, wherein the indication signal is
generated in response to user activation/deactivation of a
user-activated location input element.
4-6. (canceled)
7. The ECG sensor chip of claim 1, wherein the location indicator
comprises a peak detector that receives a first peak detection
signal derived from the first ECG signal and a second peak
detection signal derived from the second ECG signal and generates
the switching signal based on a difference between the first peak
detection signal and the second peak detection signal.
8. The ECG sensor chip of claim 7, wherein the amplifier comprises:
a front-end low noise amplifier (LNA) that receives the first ECG
signal and second ECG signal from the switch, and generates an
intermediate amplified first ECG signal and an intermediate
amplified second ECG signal; and a back-end programmable gain
amplifier (PGA) that receives the intermediate amplified first ECG
signal and the intermediate amplified second ECG signal from the
LNA, and generates an amplified first ECG signal and an amplified
second ECG signal.
9. The ECG sensor chip of claim 8, further comprising: an offset
controller that provides at least voltage control offset to at
least one of the LNA and PGA.
10-14. (canceled)
15. A wearable appliance worn at a location on a user and
comprising: a first electrocardiogram (ECG) electrode; a second ECG
electrode; an ECG sensor chip that receives a first ECG signal from
the first ECG electrode and a second ECG signal from the second ECG
electrode, the ECG sensor chip comprising; a switch controlled by a
switching signal and including a first switch input that receives
the first ECG signal, a second switch input that receives the
second ECG signal, a first switch output, and a second switch
output; an amplifier including a first amplifier input that
receives one of the first ECG signal and the second ECG signal from
the first switch output and a second amplifier input that receives
the other one of the first ECG signal and the second ECG signal
from the second switch output, and generates an amplified
difference signal between the first ECG signal and the second ECG
signal; and a location indicator that generates the switching
signal in one of a first state and a second state, wherein in
response to the first state of the switching signal, the switch
passes the first ECG signal from the first switch input to the
first switch output and passes the second ECG signal from the
second switch input to the second switch output, and in response to
the second state of the switching signal, the switch passes the
first ECG signal from the first switch input to the second switch
output and passes the second ECG signal from the second switch
input to the first switch out.
16. The wearable appliance of claim 15, wherein the first ECG
electrode is disposed on a first surface of the wearable appliance,
and the second ECG electrode is disposed on a second surface of the
wearable appliance different from the first surface.
17. The wearable appliance of claim 15, further comprising: a
ground electrode disposed on a third surface of the wearable
appliance in contact with the user at the location when the
wearable appliance is worn by the user.
18. The wearable appliance of claim 17, wherein the first surface
and third surface are a same surface of the wearable appliance,
such that the ground electrode and first ECG electrode are
proximately disposed on the same surface of the wearable appliance
in contact with the user at the location when the wearable
appliance is worn by the user.
19. (canceled)
20. The wearable appliance of claim 15, wherein the first ECG
electrode, second ECG electrode and a ground electrode are commonly
disposed on a surface of the wearable appliance in contact with the
user at the location when the wearable appliance is worn by the
user.
21. The wearable appliance of claim 15, wherein the wearable
appliance is a watch, and the location is a wrist of the user.
22. The wearable appliance of claim 15, wherein the wearable
appliance is a patch configured to adhere to the skin of the
user.
23. The wearable appliance of claim 15, wherein the wearable
appliance is watch comprising a watch body and a watch strap that
attaches the watch body to a wrist of the user, the first surface
and third surface are a bottom surface of the watch body in contact
with the wrist of the user when the watch is worn by the user, and
the second surface is portion of the watch strap.
24. (canceled)
25. The wearable appliance of claim 15, wherein the wearable
appliance is eye glasses, comprising: left and right lens parts
connected by a bridge part; a left arm member that supports the eye
glasses on a left side of a user's head; and a right arm member
that supports the eye glasses on a right side of the user's head,
wherein at least one of the first ECG electrode and second ECG
electrode is disposed on one of the left arm member and right arm
member in contact with the user's head when the glasses are worn by
the user.
26-28. (canceled)
29. A system on a chip (SoC) comprising: an electrocardiogram (ECG)
sensor chip that includes: a switch controlled by a switching
signal and including a first switch input that receives a first ECG
signal from a first ECG sensor, a second switch input that receives
a second ECG signal from a second ECG sensor, a first switch
output, and a second switch output; an amplifier including a first
amplifier input that receives one of the first ECG signal and the
second ECG signal from the first switch output, and a second
amplifier input that receives the other one of the first ECG signal
and the second ECG signal from the second switch output and
generates an amplified difference signal between the first ECG
signal and the second ECG signal; and a location indicator that
generates the switching signal having one of a first state and a
second state, wherein in response to the switching signal having
the first state, the switch passes the first ECG signal from the
first switch input to the first switch output and passes the second
ECG signal from the second switch input to the second switch
output, and in response to the switching signal having the second
state, the switch passes the first ECG signal from the first switch
input to the second switch output and passes the second ECG signal
from the second switch input to the first switch out; and an
analog-to-digital converter (ADC) that receives the amplified
difference signal and generates corresponding ECG digital signals;
and a Central Processing Unit (CPU) that receives the ECG digital
signals and generates display information that controls generation
of a visual image on a display.
30. The SoC of claim 29, wherein the location indicator generates
the switching signal in the first state when the first ECG sensor
is in contact with a left wrist of the user and the second ECG
sensor is in contact with a right hand of the user, and generates
the switching signal in the second state when the first ECG sensor
is in contact with a right wrist of the user and the second ECG
sensor is in contact with a left hand of the user.
31. The SoC of claim 29, further comprising: a power management
circuit that derives at least one power signal from battery power
and provides the at least one power signal to the ECG sensor chip,
ADC, and CPU; and a display controller that receives the display
information and drives the display to generate the visual
image.
32. The SoC of claim 29, further comprising: a first substrate
mounting the ECG sensor chip, ADC and CPU.
33. The SoC of claim 32, further comprising: a second substrate
stacked on the first substrate and mounting a memory that exchanges
data with the CPU, and a memory controller that controls in
conjunction with the CPU operation of the memory.
34-40. (canceled)
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 from
Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0160011 filed on Nov. 17,
2014, the subject matter of which is hereby incorporated by
reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Embodiments of the inventive concept relate generally to
wearable electronic healthcare appliances and more particularly to
electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor chips configured for use in wearable
healthcare appliances, systems-on-chip incorporating such ECG
sensor chips and related healthcare appliances.
[0003] Strong consumer demand for wearable healthcare appliances
(hereafter, simply "appliances") capable of monitoring and
recording health conditions has followed a growing social emphasis
on personal responsibility in health matters. With continued
improvements in the miniaturization of electronics, consumers are
now able to obtain small, portable devices capable of providing
monitoring, recording, and/or displaying a number of health-related
conditions. Many of these devices are "wearable" in the sense that
they are conveniently configured for use in a manner that allows a
user to comfortably wear the device for periods of time.
[0004] There are many different characteristics of a person's body
that--when properly monitored and interpreted--provide meaningful
information regarding the overall health of the person. One
important characteristic is the electrical signal(s) associated
with operation of the heart. It is well recognized that the heart's
electrical activity may be monitored by a set of routine medical
tests commonly referred to as an electrocardiogram (ECG).
[0005] An ECG may be administered for a variety of reasons
including; checking on the overall activity of a heart, identifying
the cause of unexplained chest pain like the pain commonly
associated with heart attack, pericarditis and angina, identifying
the cause certain symptoms commonly associated with heart disease
such as shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting and heart
palpitations, monitoring the effect of certain medicines on the
heart, checking on the operation of mechanical devices implanted in
the heart, and defining a health baseline to better monitor chronic
health conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol,
cigarette smoking and diabetes.
[0006] The typical ECG is administered in a doctor's office to a
reclining patient by carefully attaching ten (10) electrical leads
to designated locations on the patient's body and thereafter
recording a set of electrical signals over a period of time. While
indisputably useful to medical professionals and harmless to the
patient, the typical ECG is far from convenient.
[0007] More recently, improved techniques have allowed an ECG-like
monitoring of heart-related bioelectrical signals using a wearable
device instead of a clumsy set of electrical leads. In this manner,
certain aspects of a person's physical condition may be
conveniently monitored over longer periods of time outside of a
doctor's office. However, such portable devices have heretofore
suffered from signal detection problems and significant constrains
on acceptable wearable locations of such devices on a person's
body. That is, when conventional wearable devices capable of
detecting an ECG-like signal are randomly positioned on a person's
body the diagnostic results are often disappointing.
SUMMARY
[0008] In one aspect, certain embodiments of the inventive concept
provide an electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor chip configured for use
in a wearable appliance and including; a switch controlled by a
switching signal and including a first switch input that receives a
first ECG signal, a second switch input that receives a second ECG
signal, a first switch output, and a second switch output, an
amplifier including a first amplifier input that receives one of
the first ECG signal and the second ECG signal from the first
switch output and a second amplifier input that receives the other
one of the first ECG signal and the second ECG signal from the
second switch output, and amplifies a difference between the first
ECG signal and second ECG signal, and a location indicator that
generates the switching signal in one of a first state and a second
state, wherein in response to the first state of the switching
signal, the switch passes the first ECG signal from the first
switch input to the first switch output and passes the second ECG
signal from the second switch input to the second switch output,
and in response to the second state of the switching signal, the
switch passes the first ECG signal from the first switch input to
the second switch output and passes the second ECG signal from the
second switch input to the first switch output.
[0009] In another aspect, certain embodiments of the inventive
concept provide a system configured for use in a wearable
appliance, the system including; an electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor
chip that receives a first ECG signal from a first ECG sensor and a
second ECG signal from a second ECG sensor, and includes an
amplifier that amplifies a difference between the first ECG signal
and second ECG signal to generate a first ECG output signal and a
second ECG output signal, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) that
receives the first and second ECG output signals and generates
corresponding ECG digital signals, and a processor that receives
the ECG digital signals and processes the ECG digital signals in
response to received location information indicating a location of
the wearable appliance as worn by a user.
[0010] In another aspect, certain embodiments of the inventive
concept provide a wearable appliance worn at a location on a user
and including; a first electrocardiogram (ECG) electrode, a second
ECG electrode, an ECG sensor chip that receives a first ECG signal
from the first ECG electrode and a second ECG signal from the
second ECG electrode, the ECG sensor chip comprising, a switch
controlled by a switching signal and including a first switch input
that receives the first ECG signal, a second switch input that
receives the second ECG signal, a first switch output, and a second
switch output, an amplifier including a first amplifier input that
receives one of the first ECG signal and the second ECG signal from
the first switch output and a second amplifier input that receives
the other one of the first ECG signal and the second ECG signal
from the second switch output, and generates an amplified
difference signal between the first ECG signal and the second ECG
signal, and a location indicator that generates the switching
signal in one of a first state and a second state, wherein in
response to the first state of the switching signal, the switch
passes the first ECG signal from the first switch input to the
first switch output and passes the second ECG signal from the
second switch input to the second switch output, and in response to
the second state of the switching signal, the switch passes the
first ECG signal from the first switch input to the second switch
output and passes the second ECG signal from the second switch
input to the first switch out.
[0011] In another aspect, certain embodiments of the inventive
concept provide a system on a chip (SoC) including an
electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor chip that includes; a switch
controlled by a switching signal and including a first switch input
that receives a first ECG signal from a first ECG sensor, a second
switch input that receives a second ECG signal from a second ECG
sensor, a first switch output, and a second switch output, an
amplifier including a first amplifier input that receives one of
the first ECG signal and the second ECG signal from the first
switch output, and a second amplifier input that receives the other
one of the first ECG signal and the second ECG signal from the
second switch output and generates an amplified difference signal
between the first ECG signal and the second ECG signal, and a
location indicator that generates the switching signal having one
of a first state and a second state, wherein in response to the
switching signal having the first state, the switch passes the
first ECG signal from the first switch input to the first switch
output and passes the second ECG signal from the second switch
input to the second switch output, and in response to the switching
signal having the second state, the switch passes the first ECG
signal from the first switch input to the second switch output and
passes the second ECG signal from the second switch input to the
first switch out, and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) that
receives the amplified difference signal and generates
corresponding ECG digital signals, and a Central Processing Unit
(CPU) that receives the ECG digital signals and generates display
information that controls generation of a visual image on a
display.
[0012] In another aspect, certain embodiments of the inventive
concept provide a data processing system including; a wearable
appliance including the ECG sensor chip, and a computing device
configured to communicate information with the wearable appliance
via at least one of a wireless connection and a hardwired
connection. The wearable appliance includes; a first
electrocardiogram (ECG) electrode, a second ECG electrode, and an
ECG sensor chip that receives a first ECG signal from the first ECG
electrode and a second ECG signal from the second ECG electrode,
wherein the ECG sensor chip includes a switch controlled by a
switching signal and including a first switch input that receives
the first ECG signal, a second switch input that receives the
second ECG signal, a first switch output, and a second switch
output, an amplifier including a first amplifier input that
receives one of the first ECG signal and the second ECG signal from
the first switch output and a second amplifier input that receives
the other one of the first ECG signal and the second ECG signal
from the second switch output, and generates an amplified
difference signal between the first ECG signal and the second ECG
signal, and a location indicator that generates the switching
signal in one of a first state and a second state, wherein in
response to the first state of the switching signal, the switch
passes the first ECG signal from the first switch input to the
first switch output and passes the second ECG signal from the
second switch input to the second switch output, and in response to
the second state of the switching signal, the switch passes the
first ECG signal from the first switch input to the second switch
output and passes the second ECG signal from the second switch
input to the first switch out.
[0013] In another aspect, certain embodiments of the inventive
concept provide a method of operating an electrocardiogram (ECG)
sensor chip receiving a first ECG signal and a second ECG signal
and being incorporated in a wearable appliance worn by a user, the
method including; generating a switching signal, using the
switching signal to control operation of a switch, wherein in
response to the switching signal having a first state, the first
ECG signal passes from a first switch input to a first switch
output and the second ECG signal passes from a second switch input
to a second switch output, else in response to the switching signal
having a second state, the first ECG signal passes from the first
switch input to the second switch output and the second ECG signal
passes from the second switch input to the first switch output, and
amplifying a difference between the first ECG signal and the second
ECG signal using an amplifier connected to the first switch output
and the second switch output.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The above and other features and advantages of the inventive
concept will become more apparent to those skilled in the art upon
consideration of certain exemplary embodiments illustrated in the
attached drawings, in which:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the capture of
an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal according to embodiments of the
inventive concept;
[0016] FIG. 2, inclusive of FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C, is a perspective
diagram illustrating in one example a wearable appliance capable of
capturing an ECG signal according to embodiments of the inventive
concept;
[0017] FIG. 3, inclusive of FIGS. 3A and 3B, is a set of
comparative waveform diagrams further illustrating the capture of
an ECG signal using a wearable appliance like the one shown in FIG.
2;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a wearable appliance
according to certain embodiments of the inventive concept;
[0019] FIGS. 5, 6A, 6B, 6C and 7 are respective circuit diagrams
further illustrating in different examples the ECG sensor chip 120
of FIG. 4;
[0020] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a graphical user interface
(GUI) that may be displayed by a display incorporated in a wearable
appliance according to certain embodiments of the inventive
concept;
[0021] FIGS. 9, 10A, 10B, 10C and 11 are respective circuit
diagrams further illustrating in different examples the ECG sensor
chip 120 of FIG. 4.
[0022] FIGS. 12A and 12B are conceptual diagrams illustrating the
use of voltage offsets in the capture and amplification of an ECG
signal according to certain embodiments of the inventive
concept;
[0023] FIGS. 13, 14, 15, 16A and 16B are respective, perspective
diagrams variously illustrating in different examples certain
wearable appliances capable of capturing an ECG signal according to
embodiments of the inventive concept;
[0024] FIG. 17 is a block diagram of a data processing system
including a wearable appliance including an ECG sensor chip
according to embodiments of the inventive concept;
[0025] FIG. 18 is a flowchart generally summarizing a method of
operating an ECG sensor chip according to embodiments of the
inventive concept;
[0026] FIG. 19 is a flowchart summarizing a method of selectively
operating a wearable appliance according to embodiments of the
inventive concept; and
[0027] FIGS. 20 and 21 are respective block diagrams of data
processing systems including a wearable appliance including the ECG
sensor chip according to certain embodiments of the inventive
concept.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] Certain embodiments of the inventive concept will now be
described in some additional detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings. This inventive concept may, however, be
embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as
being limited only the illustrated embodiments. Rather, these
embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough
and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to
those skilled in the art. Throughout the written description and
drawings, like reference numbers and labels are used to denote like
or similar elements.
[0029] It will be understood that when an element is referred to as
being "connected" or "coupled" to another element, it can be
directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening
elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred
to as being "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another
element, there are no intervening elements present. As used herein,
the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more
of the associated listed items and may be abbreviated as "/".
[0030] It will be understood that, although the terms first,
second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these
elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only
used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first
signal could be termed a second signal, and, similarly, a second
signal could be termed a first signal without departing from the
teachings of the disclosure.
[0031] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of
the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and
"the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood
that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," or "includes"
and/or "including" when used in this specification, specify the
presence of stated features, regions, integers, steps, operations,
elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or
addition of one or more other features, regions, integers, steps,
operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
[0032] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and
scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly
understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this
invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such
as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be
interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their
meaning in the context of the relevant art and/or the present
application, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly
formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0033] The term "wearable appliance" is used hereafter to denote a
broad class of user-wearable electronic devices that may be used to
detect, capture, monitor and/or record one or more bioelectrical
signal(s) associated with the user's body. Wearable appliances will
have variety of configurations variously appropriate to different
applications and dispositions on the user's body. Certain wearable
appliances consistent with the inventive concept will be publicly
apparent when worn by a user and will be readily recognizable as
common fashion accessories such as a watches, rings, bracelets,
anklets, necklaces, headphones, hats, eye glasses, etc. In this
regard, certain embodiments of the inventive concept may be
physically incorporated within common electrical devices capable of
performing their normal function(s), like watches that tell time
and headphones that provide audio signals, for example. Other
wearable appliances consistent with the inventive concept will be
incorporated within articles of clothing such as neckties,
wristbands, headbands, shirts, undershirts, bras, etc. Still other
wearable appliances consistent with the inventive concept will be
more appropriately worn underneath clothing and may take the form
of skin-adhering patches of various sizes, shapes and
compositions.
[0034] Figure (FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the
capture of a bioelectrical signal associated with the operation of
a user's heart. As noted above, this type of signal is routinely
captured by an electrocardiogram (ECG) test. Thus, for purposes of
the description that follows, this type of signal--in all of its
variations and manifestations within the human body and in all of
its electrically captureable forms, whether singularly or as a
combination--will hereafter be generally referred to as an "ECG
signal". Accordingly, in FIG. 1 the capture of an ECG signal is
illustrated. In this context, the term "capture" refers to any
process that identifies, detects, acquires and/or measures an ECG
signal sufficient to generate at least one analog signal, or
corresponding digital data, that accurately represents the
electrical activity of the user's heart as manifested by an ECG
signal.
[0035] Under the foregoing definition, a user will only produce a
single ECG signal associated with the activity of his/her heart.
However, the ECG signal will be differently manifested and
differently captured at different locations on the user's body.
Ideally, an ECG signal would be captured by one or more ECG sensors
placed on appropriate locations directly proximate the user's heart
(e.g., a first location 10 in FIG. 1 capturing a first ECG signal
ECG0). Unfortunately, while the first location 10 centered over the
user's heart provides the strongest (i.e., highest differential
amplitude) ECG signal, it is not necessarily convenient and the
disposition of sensors at this location may be uncomfortable to the
user during physical exercise. Accordingly, it is often highly
desirable for the user of a wearable appliance to be able to place
the constituent ECG sensors on a more convenient location of
his/her body, such as a wrist.
[0036] This dispositional flexibility is one feature sadly lacking
in many conventional devices. Such conventional devices routinely
mandate an exact disposition location and any departure from this
location greatly impairs an accurate ECG signal capture. In
contrast, wearable appliances according to the inventive concept
recognize that an ECG signal will be differently manifested when
captured at different locations on a user's body. However, wearable
appliances according to the inventive concept nonetheless provide a
user with the flexibility of wear the wearable appliance at a
location deemed most comfortable or most convenient to the
user.
[0037] For example with reference to FIG. 1, certain aspects of the
inventive concept recognize that a second ECG signal (ECG1)
apparent at a second location 20 (i.e., the user's left wrist) will
be less strong than the first ECG signal (ECG0) at the first
location 10, and that a third ECG signal (ECG2) apparent at a third
location 30 (i.e., the user's right wrist) will be less strong than
the second ECG signal (ECG1). That is, the inventive concept
recognizes that increasing the distance between an ECG signal
capture location on a user's body and the user's heart tends to
decrease the input signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the captured ECG
signal. Nonetheless, embodiments of the inventive concept are
configured in such a manner that allow a user to reasonably wear a
wearable appliance at multiple desirable locations on his/her
body.
[0038] FIG. 2, inclusive of FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C, is a set of
perspective diagrams illustrating a wearable appliance 100 capable
of capturing and processing an ECG signal according to certain
embodiments of the inventive concept. Although the wearable
appliance 100 shown in FIG. 2 is a watch, those of ordinary skill
in the art will recognize that this is merely one convenient
example, and wearable appliances consistent with the inventive
concept may take many different forms.
[0039] The wearable appliance 100 of FIG. 2 comprises a watch body
99 housing circuitry and/or software used to implement the
functionality of the wearable appliance 100, as well as circuitry
and/or software used to provide typical watch functionality. A
first ECG electrode 101 and a ground electrode 105 protrude from a
bottom surface 98 of the watch body 99. When normally worn by a
user at a desired location, such as a left or right wrist, the
bottom surface 98 of the watch body 99. Hence, the protruding first
ECG electrode 101 and ground electrode 105 are placed in direct
contact with the user's skin when the wearable appliance 100 is
worn by the user. This direct skin contact is highly beneficial to
the capture of an ECG signal by the watch 100. In contrast, a
second ECG electrode 103 may be disposed on a top surface 97 of the
watch body 99 opposing the bottom surface 98. Alternately, the
second ECG electrode 103 may be disposed on a side surface 96 of
the watch body 99. When normally worn by a user, the top surface 97
and side surfaces 96 of the watch body 99, along with the second
ECG electrode 103 are readily accessible to the user. In the
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the first ECG electrode 101 may
be designated a positive electrode, and the second ECG electrode
103 may be designated a negative electrode.
[0040] In this context, the term "ECG sensor" refers to any one of
a number of different bioelectrical, electro-mechanical, and/or
electrical components capable of capturing an ECG signal when
placed proximate to or directly in contact with the user's
body.
[0041] Although in FIG. 2, the ground electrode 105 is disposed on
the bottom surface 98 of the body 99 proximate the first ECG
electrode 101, other embodiments of the inventive concept may
differently place the ground electrode 105, or completely omit it.
However, the use of the ground electrode 105 may significantly aid
in ECG signal synchronization between the wearable appliance 100
and the user. That is, use of the ground electrode 105 prevents
floating of the ECG signal during capture of the ECG signal by an
ECG sensor chip included in the wearable appliance 100. As a
result, the combination of various ECG sensors and the ECG sensor
chip in the wearable appliance 100 may be more reliably
operated.
[0042] FIG. 3, inclusive of FIGS. 3A and 3B, further illustrates
the typical nature of an ECG signal being variously captured by the
wearable appliance 100 of FIG. 2. Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3A,
an ECG signal having the waveform shown in FIG. 3A may be captured
by an ECG sensor chip of the watch-type wearable appliance 100 when
worn on the left wrist of the user (location 20 in FIG. 1), and
when the second ECG electrode 103 is depressed by the user using a
finger of his/her right hand (location 30 in FIG. 1). In other
words, when the second ECG electrode 103 contacts the finger of the
right hand, the first electrode 101 and ground electrode 105 are
placed in contact with the skin of the user's left wrist.
[0043] Of particular note with respect to the ECG signal waveform
shown in FIG. 3A, a positive ECG signal peak ("R") is periodically
manifest above the ECG signal baseline. Of course, the polarity
(positive or negative) of ECG signal peak above or below the ECG
signal baseline is a matter of definition for the ECG sensor chip
of the wearable appliance 100.
[0044] Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3B, the ECG signal having
the waveform shown in FIG. 3B may be captured by an ECG sensor chip
of the watch-type wearable appliance 100 when worn on the right
wrist of the user (location 30 in FIG. 1), and when the second ECG
electrode 103 is depressed by the user using a finger of his/her
left hand (location 20 in FIG. 1). In other words, when the second
ECG electrode 103 contacts the finger of the left hand, the first
electrode 101 and ground electrode 105 are placed in contact with
the skin of the user's right wrist.
[0045] Of particular note with respect to the ECG signal waveform
shown in FIG. 3B, a negative ECG signal peak ("R") is periodically
manifest below the ECG signal baseline. More importantly, the
absolute value of the difference between the ECG baseline and the
ECG signal peak captured at the right wrist may be less than the
absolute value of the difference between the ECG baseline and the
ECG signal peak captured at the left wrist. Therefore, all other
things remaining equal, the ECG signal apparent at the right wrist
may be more difficult to accurately capture than the ECG signal
apparent at the left wrist. As a result, more signal processing
time and resources may be required from the ECG sensor chip when
the wearable appliance 100 of FIG. 2 is worn on a user's right
wrist, or some other location manifesting a relatively weaker
version of the ECG signal.
[0046] FIG. 4 is a block diagram further illustrating in one
example the wearable appliance 100 of FIG. 2. Here, the wearable
appliance 100 generally comprises a processing unit 110 and a
display 180. The display 180 is an optional component, but may
prove very useful in certain embodiments of the inventive concept,
such as the watch-wearable appliance 100 of FIG. 2.
[0047] The processing unit 110 may be used to receive, capture and
process an ECG signal and to control the operation of the display
180 some other external circuitry responsive to the ECG signal. The
processing unit 110 may alternately or additionally be used to
derive a control signal from the captured ECG signal, where this
control signal may be provided to one or more external
circuits.
[0048] The processing unit 110 of FIG. 4 includes a first signal
port (e.g., a pad, terminal or similar electrical element)
receiving a first ECG signal from the first ECG electrode 101, a
second signal port receiving a second ECG signal from the second
ECG electrode 103, a third signal port receiving a ground signal
from the ground electrode 105. In addition, the processing unit 110
of FIG. 4 includes a battery 112, a power management integrated
circuit (PMIC) 114, an ECG sensor chip 120, an analog-to-digital
converter (ADC) 130, a central processing unit (CPU) 140, a memory
controller 150, a memory 160, a display controller 170, and an
input interface 172.
[0049] Optionally, the processing unit 110 may also include a
fourth signal port configured to receive a location signal provided
by (e.g.,) a user-activated, location input element 107 discussed
in further detail hereafter.
[0050] Assuming for purposes of this description that the wearable
appliance 100 of FIG. 4 is similar to the wearable appliance of
FIG. 2, it is further assumed that the first ECG electrode 101 and
the ground electrode 105 may commonly be placed in contact with
either the left wrist or the right wrist of the user, and that the
second ECG electrode 103 is placed in contact with the right hand
or the left hand of the user, respectively. Under these assumed
conditions, the first ECG signal is provided to the processing unit
110 via the first signal port, the second ECG signal is provided to
the processing unit 110 via the second signal port, and the ground
signal is provided to the processing unit 110 via the third signal
port.
[0051] The first signal port is connected to the ECG sensor chip
120 via a first signal line 102, the second signal port is
connected to the ECG sensor chip 120 via a second signal line 104,
and the third signal port is connected to the battery 112 via a
third signal line 106. In this regard, a ground voltage (VSS) may
be communicated to one or more of the processing unit 110
components, such as the PMIC 114, ECG sensor chip 120, ADC 130, CPU
140, memory controller 150, memory 160, display controller 170,
and/or input interface 172.
[0052] In combination, the battery 112 and PMIC 114 may be used to
provide one or more power voltages (not shown) to the processing
unit 110 components, display 180, and/or input device 185.
[0053] The ECG sensor chip 120 may be used to receive and process
the first ECG signal and the second ECG signal in order to generate
one or more ECG output signal(s). For example, the ECG sensor chip
120 may be used to amplify a voltage difference between the first
and second ECG signals in order to generate a corresponding,
amplified ECG output signal(s).
[0054] Assuming that the ECG output signal(s) are analog in nature,
the ADC 130 may be used to receive the ECG output signal(s) and
convert the ECG output signal(s) into one or more corresponding ECG
digital signal(s). In this regard, certain embodiments of the
inventive concept use differential, first and second ECG output
signals provided from the ECG sensor chip 120, received by the ADC
130, and then respectively used by the ADC 130 to generate
respective first and second ECG digital signals. Thereafter, the
first and second ECG digital signals may be provided to the CPU
140.
[0055] The CPU 140 may be used to control the overall operation of
all processing unit 110 components, as well as the display 180 and
user input device 185. In response to one or more ECG digital
signals provided by the ADC 130, the CPU 140 may perform one or
data processing routines adapted to calculate, for example, the
user's heart rate. Alternately or additionally, the CPU 140 may be
used to identify an arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat for the user.
Such data processing routines may be controlled by one or more
applications (APP) running on the CPU 140. The programming code
used to implement such applications, wholly or in part, may be
stored in the memory 160. Regardless of the particular data
processing routines run in relation to the ECG digital signal(s)
received from the ADC 130 by the CPU 140, the CPU 140 may provide
corresponding control signal(s) and/or data (hereafter, control
signal/data") to the display controller 170.
[0056] In one exemplary data processing routine, an application
running on the CPU 140 may be used to count over a defined period
of time a number of ECG peaks identified in one or more ECG
signal(s). (See, e.g., FIG. 3). The counted number of ECG peaks may
be used to calculate the user's heart rate, and corresponding
control signal/data may be communicated from the CPU 140 to the
display controller 170 in response to this calculation.
[0057] In another exemplary data processing routine, an application
running on the CPU 140 may be used to calculate a time interval
between sequential ECG peaks identified in one or more ECG
signal(s). The calculated interval may be used to identify an
arrhythmia, and corresponding control signal/data may be
communicated to the display controller 170 in response to this
calculation.
[0058] The memory 160 may be used to store ECG digital signals
received from the ADC 130, intermediate computational data
generated by an application running on the CPU 140, and/or control
signal/data provided by the CPU 140 to the display controller
170.
[0059] Thus, the ECG digital signals, which may be respectively or
collectively derived from one or more analog ECG signal(s) received
by the ECG sensor chip 120, may be variously processed by the CPU
140 under the control of one or more application(s). For example,
assuming the provision of multiple ECG digital signals, the CPU 140
may invert one or more of the ECG digital signal(s) for use during
a subsequent data processing routine.
[0060] Exemplary configurations for the ECG sensor chip 120 of FIG.
4 are illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, and 11.
[0061] The memory controller 150 may be used to write data received
from the CPU 140 to the memory 160 and/or read data from the memory
160. The memory 160 may be configured from volatile and/or
non-volatile memory. Volatile memory may be random access memory
(RAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), or static RAM (SRAM). Non-volatile
memory may be electrically erasable programmable read-only memory
(EEPROM), flash memory, magnetic RAM (MRAM), spin-transfer torque
MRAM, ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM), phase-change RAM (PRAM), or
resistive RAM (RRAM). The memory 160 may be implemented as a smart
card, a secure digital (SD) card, a multimedia card (MMC), an
embedded MMC (eMMC), an embedded multi-chip package (eMCP), a
perfect page NAND (PPN), a universal flash storage (UFS), a solid
state drive (SSD), or an embedded SSD (eSSD). The memory 160 may
also be implemented as fixed memory or removable memory.
[0062] Although a single memory controller 150 and memory 160 are
shown in FIG. 4 for clarity of the description, the memory 160 may
include a number of separately or collectively implemented memory
device controlled by one or more the memory controller(s) 150,
where such memory devices may be similar or different in their
operational nature and/or configuration.
[0063] As noted above, the display controller 170 receives certain
control signal/data from the CPU 140 and controls the operation of
the display 180 according to one or more conventionally understood
interfaces. Thus, display controller 170 may be used to control the
generation and display of visual images related to the control
signals and/or data provided by the CPU 140 under the control of
(e.g.,) firmware executed by the CPU 140.
[0064] The input interface 172 may be used to communicate data
input via the user input device 185 and/or display 180 to the CPU
140. The user input device 185 may be a device, such as a touch
screen controller, a touch sensor, or touch pad capable of
generating various input signals (or data) controlling the
operation of the wearable appliance 100. In certain embodiments of
the inventive concept, the user input device 185 will be a
graphical user interface (GUI) displayed on the display 180. FIG. 8
shows one example of a user-interactive GUI that may be displayed
on a display 180. The CPU 140 may be used to receive user input
signals and/or data provided by the user input device 185 via input
interface 172. One or more applications (APP) may be programmed or
controlled to in response to such user input signals and/or
data.
[0065] In certain embodiments of the inventive concept, it may
prove advantageous to implement the processing unit 110 of FIG. 4,
or some sub-set of the processing unit 110 components, as a single
integrated circuit (IC) chip of the form commonly referred to as a
System on Chip (SoC). In one example, the ECG sensor chip 120, PMIC
114, ADC130 and CPU 140 may be implemented as a SoC. Alternately,
the memory controller 150 and memory 160 may be added to the ECG
sensor chip 120, PMIC 114, ADC130 and CPU 140 when implemented as a
SoC. In this regard, the memory 160 may be implemented as a SRAM, a
DRAM, a small-capacity flash memory, or a large-capacity flash
memory in the SoC.
[0066] When the memory controller 150 and memory 160 are integrated
into a single semiconductor package, the SoC need not include these
commonly provided components. Rather, a first semiconductor package
including the SoC, and a second semiconductor package including the
memory controller 150 and memory 160 may be variously stacked one
on top of the other using (e.g.,) stack balls attached or bonded to
a printed circuit board (PCB). The first package and second package
may be configured using a package on package (PoP) technique in
this regard.
[0067] FIG. 5 is a block diagram further illustrating in one
example (120A) the ECG sensor chip 120 of FIG. 4. Referring
collectively to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, the ECG sensor chip 120A
includes a switch circuit 121, a switch signal generator 123A, and
a differential amplifier 124.
[0068] The location input element 107 of FIG. 5 is assumed to be a
mechanical button according to certain embodiments of the inventive
concept. When appropriately activated by the user, the button 107
provides an "location indication signal" (IDS) to the switch signal
generator 123A. For example, again assuming the watch-wearable
appliance 100 of FIG. 2, the button 107 may be provided on the
watch body 99 in a manner that allows the left hand or right hand
of the user to operate it when the watch 100 is worn on the
opposing right wrist or left wrist. Further, with this assumption,
the switch circuit 121 will receive the first ECG signal (ECG1)
from the first ECG electrode 101 via the first signal line 102, and
will also receive the second ECG signal (ECG2) from the second
electrode 103 via the second signal line 104.
[0069] In the ECG sensor chip 120A of FIG. 5, the switch signal
generator 123A is assumed to generate a switch signal (SS) having
at a first (e.g., a logical "low") level (or "first state") in
response to a positive indication signal. In response to the switch
signal having the first level, the switch circuit 121 operates to
apply the first ECG signal received at a first switch input A to a
first switch output C, and to apply the second ECG signal received
at a second switch input B to a second switch output D. The switch
signal generator 123A is further assumed to generate the switch
signal having at a second (e.g., a logical "high") level (or
"second state") in response to a negative indication signal. In
response to the switch signal having the second level, the switch
circuit 121 operates to apply the first ECG signal received at the
first switch input A to the second switch output D, and to apply
the second ECG signal received at the second switch input B to the
first switch output C.
[0070] The definition of positive/negative indication signals with
respect to the user operation of the location input element (e.g.,
button) 107 is a matter of design choice. Various types and forms
of buttons may be used, and may be variously activated/deactivated
(e.g., pressed down, pulled up, toggled, turned or touched) by a
user.
[0071] For example, assuming the use or the watch-wearable
appliance 100 described in relation to FIG. 2, when the user
chooses to wear the watch 100 on his/her left wrist and therefore
leaves the button 107 deactivated per the instructions provided
with the watch 100, the deactivated state of the button 107
generates the positive indication signal that is applied to the
switch signal generator 123A via the signal line 108. In contrast,
when the user chooses to wear the watch 100 on his/her right wrist
and therefore activates the button 107, the activated state of the
button 107 generates the negative indication signal that is applied
to the switch signal generator 123A via the signal line 108. Then,
the switch signal generator 123A may response as described above to
switch or not-switch the first and second ECG signals.
[0072] The differential amplifier 124 receives and amplifies the
first and second ECG signals (SA and SA') respectively provided at
the first and second switch outputs C and D of the switch circuit
121, and communicates amplified differential signals SB and SB' to
the ADC 130. The differential amplifier 124 will preferably have a
low noise characteristic and a high amplification factor.
Accordingly, in the example of FIG. 5, the differential amplifier
124 is assumed to include a (front-end) low noise amplifier (LNA)
125 and a (back-end) programmable gain amplifier (PGA) 127. In this
regard, an operating voltage Vdd and ground voltage VSS are applied
to the LNA 125 and PGA 127 as operating voltages.
[0073] The LNA 125 may be used to initially (or intermediately)
amplify a difference between the first and second ECG signals
received via respective LNA inputs IL1 and IL2 and to respectively
provide amplified first and second ECG signals (e.g., first and
second differential signals) at LNA outputs OL1 and OL2. The PGA
127 may then be used to further amplify the difference between the
first and second ECG signals received via respective PGA inputs IP1
and IP2 in response to an input gain control signal (GCS), and to
respectively provide further amplified first and second ECG signals
at PGA outputs OP1 and OP2.
[0074] In this manner, the ECG sensor chip 120A of FIG. 5 is able
to process ECG signal(s) no matter the location (e.g., left
wrist/right wrist of a user) from which the ECG signal(s) are
acquired by the wearable appliance 100 in response to the user's
operation of a location input element. Of course, the
watch-wearable appliance 100 example drawn in relation to
left/right wrists of a user is only one example. Differently
configured wearable appliances according to embodiments of the
inventive concept may be differently located and will incorporate
an appropriate location input element.
[0075] FIG. 6 is a block diagram further illustrating in another
example (120B) the ECG sensor chip 120 of FIG. 4. Referring to
FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, the ECG sensor chip 120B again includes
the switch circuit 121 and differential amplifier 124 previously
described in relation to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5.
Accordingly, these elements and their related signals will not be
described in relation to FIG. 6.
[0076] However, the ECG sensor chip 120B of FIG. 6 includes a
different type of "location indicator" as compared with the ECG
sensor chip 120A described in relation to FIG. 5. Namely, instead
of using a switch signal generator 123A responsive to an indication
signal (IDS) generated by a location input element (e.g., button
107) activated/deactivated by the user, the switch signal (SS)
applied in the ECG sensor chip 102B of FIG. 6 is generated by a
peak detector 123B.
[0077] Notably, the peak detector 123B used in the ECG sensor chip
120B of FIG. 6 is an example of a switch signal generating unit
that "automatically" provides the switching signal based on the
nature of the received ECG signal(s). By way of comparison, the
combination of switch signal generator 123A and button 107 are used
in the ECG sensor chip 120A of FIG. 5 is an example of a switch
signal generating unit that "manually" provides the switching
signal.
[0078] It is assumed for purposes of this description that the peak
detector 123B generates the switch signal having the first level by
operational default. Thus, again assuming the watch-wearable
appliance 100 example of FIG. 2, when a user wears the watch 100 on
his/her left wrist and touches the second electrode 103 with
his/her right hand, the resulting first and second ECG signals (see
FIG. 3) will be automatically detected at the LNA outputs OL1 and
OL2, or alternately at the PGA outputs OP1 and OP2. Upon detection
of the first and second ECG signals by the peak detector 123B, the
respective waveforms (or aspects of the waveforms, like the ECG
peak) will be interrupted to indirectly determine the location of
the watch-wearable appliance as worn by the user.
[0079] Thus, when a relatively stronger first ECG signal apparent
at the first LNA output OL1 is detected in relation to a relatively
weaker second ECG signal apparent at the second LNA output OL2, the
peak detector interrupts this result as the watch 100 being worn on
the left wrist and generates the switching signal having the first
level (i.e., the default option). In contrast, when a relatively
weaker first ECG signal apparent at the first LNA output OL1 is
detected in relation to a relatively stronger second ECG signal
apparent at the second LNA output OL2, the peak detector interrupts
this result as the watch 100 being worn on the right wrist and
generates the switching signal having the second level.
[0080] Here, the switch 121 operates as previously described in
relation to the switching signal (SS).
[0081] Thus, in certain embodiments of the inventive concept, the
peak detector 123B may be used to determine whether at least one
ECG peak in amplified, first and second ECG signals respectively
apparent at outputs of the LNA 125 or PGA 127 is above or below the
ECG signal baseline. In response to this determination, the peak
detector 123B may be used to generate the switch signal having an
appropriate level. That is, when at least one of the ECG peaks of
the amplified, first and second ECG signals is detected above the
baseline as shown in FIG. 3A, the peak detector 123B will generate
the switch signal with the first level. However, when at least one
of the ECG peaks of the amplified, first and second ECG signals is
detected below the baseline as shown in FIG. 3B, the peak detector
123B will generate the switch signal with the second level.
[0082] Here again, an ECG sensor chip 120B according to certain
embodiments of the inventive concept correctly processes received
ECG signal(s) regardless of the location (e.g., left/right wrist)
that the user decides to wear the wearable appliance acquiring the
ECG signal(s).
[0083] Although the peak detector 123B of FIG. 6 is illustrated as
detecting amplified first and second ECG signals apparent at the
respective outputs of the LNA 125 (or the PGA 127), the first and
second ECG signals apparent at the switch circuit 121 may be
detected in other embodiment of the inventive concept.
[0084] FIG. 7 is a block diagram further illustrating in still
another example (120C) the ECG sensor chip 120 of FIG. 4. Referring
to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7, the ECG sensor chip 120C substantially
includes only the differential amplifier 124, as compared with the
previous two exemplary embodiments.
[0085] In the absence of a switch 121, the LNA 125 of FIG. 7 may
directly receive the first ECG signal via the first signal line 102
and the second ECG signal via the second signal line 104. Following
amplification of a voltage difference between these two ECG signals
as previously described, the first and second ECG output signals
respectively apparent at the first and second PGA outputs OP1 and
OP2, are communicated to the ADC 130, and the processing and
interruption of these ECG output signals is left to the CPU 140
based on location information identifying a location at which the
user wears the wearable appliance. For example, CPU processing and
interpretation of ECG digital signals derived from the first and
second ECG signals may be performed without user-provided input
(automatically) or with user-provided input, such as location
information input via the user input device 185 or a GUI displayed
on the display 180.
[0086] Referring again to FIGS. 4, 7 and 8, the GUI 181 displayed
on display 180 may be created by an application (APP) running on
the CPU 140. Again assuming the watch-wearable appliance 100 of
FIG. 2, the user may be asked to indicate as part of an application
execution via the GUI 181 the location of the watch 100 (e.g., on
the left or right wrist) as worn by the user.
[0087] Such an indication may be easily made by selecting and
touching one of the GUI icons 182 or 184 displayed on the display
180. Thereafter, the input device 185 may be used to communicate
location indication data (e.g., a sensed touch signal) to the CPU
140 via the input interface 172. The CPU 140 may then be used to
appropriately process (e.g.,) the ECG output signals provided to
the CPU 140 by the ADC 130 and associated with the first and second
ECG signals, whether the first and second ECG signals are presented
to the amplifier 124 as shown in FIG. 3B or as shown in FIG.
3A.
[0088] Of further note, the foregoing selection by the user between
the GUI icons 182 and 184 may occur either before, or after the
first and second ECG signals are received by the amplifier 124.
[0089] Thus, it has been shown with reference to the embodiments
respectively illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 that an ECG sensor
chip of various designs may be used to determine (or respond to)
the location of a wearable appliance, and process ECG signal(s)
captured by the wearable appliance regardless of the location. This
wearable appliance location determination and subsequent ECG signal
processing capabilities may be implemented using manual or
automatic detection approaches, and may be implemented using
hardware-based and/or software-based solutions.
[0090] The embodiments of the inventive concept illustrated in
FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 (120D, 120E and 120F) are respectively analogous
to the embodiments previously described in relation to FIGS. 5, 6
and 7 (120A, 120B and 120C). However, in each one of the
embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 (120D, 120E and
120F), the amplifier 124 has been modified to include an offset
controller 129 that provides voltage control offsets to one or both
of the LNA 125 and PGA 127. Thus, the differential amplifier 124
included in each of these additional embodiments functions as a
differential amplifier with an offset characteristics.
[0091] FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a general
approach whereby offset voltages are used in conjunction with the
amplifier 124 to generate an amplified ECG signal (SC) that is more
easily discriminated. Referring to FIG. 12 and holding in mind the
previous descriptions of the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5,
6 and 7, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) 175 is added behind
the ADC 130. Here, the DAC 175 may be provided as part of the
display controller 170 or display 180. That is, the display 180 may
include a display driver IC having the DAC 175.
[0092] A voltage difference "dV" is equal to the absolute value of
a difference between the first ECG signal (SA) and the second ECG
signal (SA'), where operating voltages of Vdd and 0V are assumed
for the LNA 125 and PGA 127. During the differential amplification
with voltage offset of the first and second ECG signals, as shown
in FIG. 12, the first ECG signal SA applied to a first input of the
LNA 125 and the second ECG signal SA' applied to a second input of
the LNA 125 have the relationship shown at (a) of FIG. 12.
[0093] Before an offset voltage (Vos) is applied to the
differential amplifier 124, and particularly to the LNA 125, the
ECG output signals SB and SB' provided by the differential
amplifier 124 will be symmetrical around Vdd/2 as shown in (b) of
FIG. 12. Thus, when the offset voltage is not applied to the
differential amplifier 124, an amplified differential output signal
SC' provided to the DAC 175 will be as shown in (d) of FIG. 12.
This generated version of the amplified differential ECG signal SC'
extends over only about half of the voltage range between Vdd and
0V.
[0094] However, when the offset voltage is applied to the
differential amplifier 124, and particularly to the LNA 125, the
output ECG signals SB and SB' of the differential amplifier 124
will again be symmetrical around Vdd/2, but will be modified by the
offset voltage value Vos as shown in (c) of FIG. 12. As a result of
this offset voltage modification, the amplified differential ECG
signal SC illustrated in (e) of FIG. 12 occupies the full operating
voltage range.
[0095] Of note, the signal-to-noise ratio for the amplified
differential ECG signal is much better when an offset voltage is
applied. That is, when an offset voltage is applied to the
differential amplifier 124, and particularly to the LNA 125, the
difference between the first and second ECG signals is more
pronouncedly amplified.
[0096] As shown in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11, one or more offset voltages
(singularly or collectively, Vos) provided by the offset controller
129 may be applied one or both of the LNA 125 and PGA 127. A first
offset voltage applied to the LNA 125 may be the same or different
from a second offset voltage applied to the PGA 127.
[0097] FIG. 13 is a perspective diagram illustrating a wearable
appliance 100-1 capable of capturing and processing one or more ECG
signal(s) according to certain embodiments of the inventive
concept. Referring to FIG. 13, the wearable appliance 100-1 again
takes the form of a wrist watch, but now includes the first
electrode 101, second electrode 103, and ground electrode 105
commonly arranged proximate one another on a bottom surface of the
watch 100-1. A processing unit 110 and display 180 similar to those
previously described may be included in the wearable appliance
100-1. Optionally, the wearable appliance 100-1 may also include
the input device 185 and/or the user-activated location input
device (e.g., button) 107 previously described.
[0098] FIG. 14 is a perspective diagram illustrating a wearable
appliance 100-2 capable of capturing and processing one or more ECG
signal(s) according to certain embodiments of the inventive
concept. Referring to FIG. 14, the wearable appliance 100-2 again
takes the form of a wrist watch and includes first electrode 101
and ground electrode 105 protruding from a bottom surface of watch
body 99 supported on the user's wrist by a watch strap 95. The
second electrode 103 is arranged on a portion of the watch strap 95
directly opposite the watch body 99. Here again, the processing
unit 110, display 180, user input 185 and/or user-activated
location input device 107 previously described may be included in
the wearable appliance 100-2.
[0099] FIG. 15 is a perspective diagram illustrating a wearable
appliance 100-3 capable of capturing and processing one or more ECG
signal(s) according to certain embodiments of the inventive
concept. The eye glasses-wearable appliance 100-3 includes one or
more of first, second and ground electrodes 101, 103, and 105, as
previously described, processing unit 110, and optionally, one or
more displays 180, where the eye glasses 100-3 include left and
right lens parts 88 connected by a bridge part 85, a left arm
member 87 supporting the eye glasses on a left side of a user's
head, and a right arm member 86 supporting the eye glasses on a
right side of the user's head.
[0100] Although the eye glasses of FIG. 15 are illustrated as
having the first electrode 101, second electrode 103 and ground
electrode 105 disposed closely proximate one to another on a single
arm member, this need not always be the case. For example, the
second electrode 103 may be disposed on the opposing left arm
member 87 instead of the right arm member 86 having the first
electrode 101 and ground electrode 105. Further, one or more
displays 180 may be incorporated within one or both of the lens
parts 88.
[0101] In certain embodiments of the inventive concept, the
processing unit 110 and a power source may be provided on a SoC
disposed on one or both arm member(s) 87/86 of the eye glasses
100-3 along with one or more ECG sensors 101, 103 and 105. However,
one or more of the ECG sensors 101. 130 and 105 may be separately
disposed on the eye glasses 100-3 external to the SoC.
[0102] FIG. 16, inclusive of FIGS. 16A and 16B, is a perspective
diagram illustrating a wearable appliance 100-4 capable of
capturing and processing one or more ECG signal(s) according to
certain embodiments of the inventive concept. Here, the wearable
appliance 100-4 takes the form of a skin-adhering patch 190 that
may be directly applied to a desired location by a user. One or
more ECG-sensing electrodes (e.g., first ECG electrode 101 and
second ECG electrode 1030 may be incorporated within the patch 190,
along with a processing unit 110 consistent with the previously
described embodiments.
[0103] Of particular note, the arrangement of the sensors in patch
190 of FIG. 16B "along" the direction of the primary veins running
through the user's arm 191 (i.e., direction "a") has been found to
be more effective in facilitating the capture of an ECG signal than
the arrangement of the sensors in patch 190 of FIG. 16A "across"
the direction of the primary veins running through the user's arm
191 (i.e., direction "b").
[0104] The embodiment of FIG. 16 is drawn to a user's lower arm,
but those skilled in the art will understand from the foregoing
description that other patch-embodiments consistent with the
inventive concept may be configured for use in relation to other
user locations such as the upper arm, upper or lower leg, neck,
etc.
[0105] FIG. 17 is a block diagram of a data processing system 200
including a wearable appliance 100-5 including the ECG sensor chip
120 FIG. 4 according to embodiments of the inventive concept.
Referring to FIG. 17, the data processing system 200 includes the
wearable appliance 100-5 and a computing device 210 configured to
communicate with the wearable appliance via a wireless and/or a
hardwired connection 199.
[0106] The wearable appliance 100-5 may be configured like the
wearable appliance previously described in relation to FIG. 4,
except for the additional provision of a wireless interface 190.
The wireless interface 190 may be used to communicate data
processed by the CPU 140 to the computing device 210 using the
wireless connection 199. The data may include data related with an
ECG signal (or ECG waveform), data related with a heart rate,
and/or data related with arrhythmia. The wireless interface 190 may
support Bluetooth, Bluetooth low energy (BLE), near field
communication (NFC), radio-frequency identification (RFID), or
WiFi.
[0107] The computing device 210 illustrated in FIG. 17 comprises; a
wireless interface 215, a CPU 220, a memory controller 225, a
memory 230, a display controller 235, and a display 240. The
computing device 210 may be implemented as a mobile computing
device or a server. The server may be used to provide a
telemedicine service, for example.
[0108] The wireless interface 215, the CPU 220, the memory
controller 225, the memory 230, the display controller 235, and the
display 240 may communicate with one another through a bus
structure 211. The wireless interface 215 may communicate with the
wireless interface 190. The wireless interface 215 may support
Bluetooth, BLE, NFC, RFID, or WiFi.
[0109] The CPU 220 may control the memory controller 225 and the
display controller 235 through the bus structure 211.
[0110] The memory controller 225 may write data (e.g., data about
an ECG) to the memory 230 or may read data (e.g., data about an
ECG) from the memory 230 according to the control of the CPU 220.
The memory 230 may be implemented using volatile and/or
non-volatile memory.
[0111] The display controller 235 may transmit data from the CPU
220 or the memory controller 225 to the display 240 through
interface according to the control of the CPU 220. The data may
include data related with an ECG signal (or ECG waveform), data
related with a heart rate, and/or data related with arrhythmia.
[0112] FIG. 18 is a flowchart summarizing a method of using an ECG
sensor chip in a wearable appliance according to certain
embodiments of the inventive concept. Referring to FIGS. 4, 5 and
6, as well as FIGS. 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17, the switch signal
generator 123A or the peak detector 123B may be used to generate
the switch signal (SS) and then communicate the switch signal to
the switch circuit 121 (S110). As described above, in response to
the switch signal having the first level, the switch circuit 121
will pass the first ECG signal ECG1 received via the first input
terminal A to the first output terminal C and the second ECG signal
ECG2 received via the second input terminal B to the second output
terminal D. Alternately, in response to the switch signal having
the second level, the switch circuit 121 will pass the first ECG
signal ECG1 received via the first input terminal A to the second
output terminal D and the second ECG signal ECG2 received via the
second input terminal B to the first output terminal C (S120).
[0113] The differential amplifier 124 then amplifies the difference
between the first ECG signal (SA) apparent at the first input
terminal IL1 and the second ECG signal (SA') apparent at the second
input terminal IL2, and output the amplified ECG output signals (SB
and SB') to the ADC 130 (S130).
[0114] As described above with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, when
the offset controller 129 applies the offset voltage Vos to the
differential amplifier 124, the differential amplifier 124 may
output the amplified signals SB and SB' reflecting the offset
voltage Vos to the ADC 130, as described with reference to FIG. 12
and with respect to operation S130.
[0115] FIG. 19 is a flowchart summarizing a method of using a
wearable appliance according to certain embodiments of the
inventive concept. Referring to FIGS. 4, 7, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16 and
18, a user of the wearable appliance (e.g., 100, 100-1, 100-2,
100-3, 100-4 or 100-5) may select an icon (182 or 184) from the GUI
181 displayed on the display 180 using the input device 185 (S210)
before beginning the process of ECG signal capture.
[0116] Here, it is assumed that the first electrode 101 and ground
electrode 105 are placed in contact with one of the left hand or
right hand, while the second electrode 103 is contacted by the
other one of the left hand or right hand. As a result, the first
electrode 101 generates the first ECG signal and the second
electrode 103 generates the second ECG signal ECG2 (S220).
[0117] The differential amplifier 124 is then used to amplify a
difference between the first ECG signal and second ECG signal,
generate amplified ECG output signals (SB and SB'), and communicate
the amplified ECG output signals to the ADC 130 (S230). The ADC 130
then converts the amplified ECG output signals SB and SB' into
corresponding digital ECG signals (S240).
[0118] When the user selected an icon (e.g. 182) during operation
S210, corresponding location information was communicated to the
CPU 140 via input device 185 and user interface 172. Thus, under
the foregoing assumptions, when the wearable appliance is worn on
the left wrist and a finger of the right hand makes contact with
the second electrode 103, an ECG signal having the waveform of FIG.
3A is generated. Accordingly, the CPU 140 processes the resulting
digital ECG signals provided by the ADC 130 based on the location
information by processing the digital ECG signal as a normal (or
non-inverted) ECG signal (S260).
[0119] However, assuming that the user selected the icon 184 in
operation S210, different location information is communicated to
the CPU 140 via the input device 185 and user interface 172. Thus,
when the wearable appliance is worn on the right wrist and a finger
of the left hand makes contact with the second electrode 103, the
resulting ECG signal will have the waveform of FIG. 3B.
Accordingly, the CPU 140 will process the corresponding digital ECG
signal provided by from the ADC 130 based on the location
information and process the digital ECG signal as an inverted ECG
signal (S270).
[0120] Thereafter, the display controller 170 or the DAC 175 of the
display 180 may be used to converts certain digital control
signal/data provided by the CPU 140 into one or more analog
signal(s) (S280).
[0121] FIG. 20 is a block diagram of a data processing system 300
including a wearable appliance 100-5 including an ECG sensor chip
like the one described in relation to FIG. 4 according to certain
embodiments of the inventive concept. The data processing system
300 may be used to provide one or more tele-medicine service(s)
adapted to monitor, record, characterize and/or protect the health
of a user wearing the wearable appliance 100-5.
[0122] Thus, referring to FIG. 20, the data processing system 300
includes the wearable appliance 100-5 and a first health care
server 320 configured to communicate data derived or monitored by
the wearable appliance via a wireless network (e.g., the internet
310, or similar distributed, wireless communication system). In
certain embodiments of the inventive concept, the data processing
system 300 may further include a second health care server 350
similarly configured to communicate with the wearable appliance
100-5 and/or the first health care server 320. Here, for example,
it is assumed that an insurance entity manages the second health
care server 350 and its constituent database 355.
[0123] When the user of the wearable appliance 100-5 causes the
execute of an application installed in the wearable appliance
100-5, a wireless interface of the wearable appliance 100-5 will
communicate health-related data (HDATA) to the health care server
320 via the internet 310 (S301). It is assumed that the application
is capable of storing a uniform resource locator (URL) associated
with the first health care server 320 and/or the second health care
server 350. Thus, the application may be used to communicate health
data (HDATA) to the first health care server 320 and/or the second
health care server 350 using the URL.
[0124] The wireless network 310 may be used to communicate the
heath data (HDATA) to the first health care server 320 (S303)
and/or the second health care server 320 (S321). In this regard,
the health data may include data associated with or derived from
one or more ECG signal(s), including data related indicating the
user's heart rate.
[0125] The first health care server 320 receives the health data
(S303), may store it, as necessary, in a constituent database 321
(S304), and communicate the health data--or data derived from the
heath data--to a doctor's computing device 345 via the network 330
(S305). In this context, the doctor's computing device 345 may be a
personal computer (PC) or a tablet PC. Assuming that the doctor
works at a medical institution (e.g., a private medical practice,
public health care center, clinic, hospital, or rescue center 340),
his/her computing device may be administered or integrated with a
larger patient data system in order to monitor received health
data, and diagnose the user's medical state. In response to the
health data, the doctor and/or his/her representative(s) may then
input diagnostic data (DDATA) (e.g., information related to a
doctor's counsel or diagnosis) to the doctor's computing device 345
(S307). The doctor's computing device 345 may then communicate the
diagnostic data to the first health care server 320 via the network
330 (S309). The first health care server 320 receives the
diagnostic data, stores it in the database 321 (S304), and
communicates it to the wearable appliance 100-5 and/or the second
health care server 350 via the wireless network 310 (S311, S313
and/or S321). In response to the diagnostic data, the wearable
appliance 100-5 may display the certain data via its display 185
under the control of the application executed by the CPU 140, and
in certain embodiments of the inventive concept, the second health
care server 350 may store the diagnostic data in the database 355
(S323).
[0126] In this manner, the user of the wearable appliance 100-5 may
receive diagnostic data from a health care professional is
something approximating real time communications, depending on the
medical professional's ability to receive and respond to the health
data communicated by the wearable appliance 100-5.
[0127] FIG. 21 is a block diagram of a data processing system 400
including a wearable appliance 100-5 including the ECG sensor chip
like the one described in relation to FIG. 4 according to certain
embodiments of the inventive concept. Like the data processing
system 300 of FIG. 20, the data processing system 400 of FIG. 21
may be used to provide one or more tele-medicine services.
[0128] Referring to FIG. 21, the data processing system 400
includes the wearable appliance 100-5 and a computing device 210
configured to communicate with the wearable appliance 100-5 via a
wireless network (e.g., an internet 405). According to some
embodiments, the data processing system 400 may further include
health care server 415 configured to communicate with the computing
device 210 via a wireless network (e.g., an internet 410.
[0129] When a user of the wearable appliance 100-5 causes execute
of an application installed in the wearable appliance 100-5, a
wireless interface of the wearable appliance 100-5 will communicate
health data (HDATA) to the computing device 210 via the wireless
network 405 (S401). The health data may include one or more ECG
signal(s) indicating the user's heart rate.
[0130] In certain embodiments of the inventive concept, the
computing device 210 may receive the health data from the wearable
appliance 100-5 via a near field communication (NFC) scanning
method or tagging method. Here, it is assumed that an application
capable of receiving the health data from the wearable appliance
100-5 is installed on the computing device 210. For example, the
wearable appliance 100-5 may operate as a NFC tag and the computing
device 210 may operate as NFC reader. As described above, the
application installed in the computing device 210 may store a URL
associated with a health care server 415 configured to communicate
with the computing device 210 and a doctor's computing device
425.
[0131] When the doctor's computing device 210 receives the health
data from the wearable appliance 100-5, the computing device 210
may generate an indication and/or display the health data or data
derived therefrom. If the doctor's intervention is warranted, the
computing device 210 may be used to communicate diagnostic data
(DDATA) and the health data to the health care server 415 via an
internet 410 under the control of an application controlled by the
doctor or his/her medical team. Thus, the application may
communicate the health data to the health care server 415 using the
URL of the health care server 415.
[0132] In this manner, the health care server 415 may receive the
health data (S405), stores it in a constituent database 417 (S406),
and communicate the health data to a doctor's computing device 425
via a network. Here again, the network may be a wired communication
network and/or a wireless communication network, and doctor's
computing device 425 may be a personal computer (PC) or a tablet
PC.
[0133] Where the doctor works in a medical institution, public
health care center, clinic, hospital, or rescue center 420, the
computing device 425 may be functionally integrated with patent
services systems used to monitor health data and diagnose a user's
medical state. The doctor may input diagnostic data in response to
the health data to the doctor's computing device 425 (S407). The
doctor's computing device 425 may then communicate the diagnostic
data to the health care server 415 via the network.
[0134] The health care server 415 then receives the diagnostic
data, stores it in the database 417, and communicates it to the
computing device 210 via the wireless internet 410 (S409 and S411).
The computing device 210 may display the data DDATA via a display
185 under the control of the application program executed by the
CPU 140.
[0135] In some certain embodiments, if the user has an emergency,
the medical team, the family protector, or the passerby may perform
emergency treatment for the user in response to the diagnostic data
displayed by the computing device 210. For example, if necessary,
the medical team, family protector, or passerby may engage in a
video call with the doctor using the computing device 210.
Accordingly, the medical team, family protector, or passerby may
administer appropriate emergency treatment to the user under the
guidance of the doctor. Further, the medical team, family
protector, or passerby may provide real time feedback in response
to the doctor's monitoring and/or diagnosis.
[0136] According to the foregoing embodiments of the inventive
concept, an ECG sensor chip may or may not invert a captured ECG
signal according to a switch signal. In addition, the ECG sensor
chip using an amplifier configured with an offset controller may be
used to reduce noise and improve signal differentiation. According
to embodiments of the inventive concept, a wearable appliance will
appropriately process one or more ECG signals in response to the
location at which the wearable appliance is worn by a user.
[0137] The foregoing embodiments are illustrative in nature. The
scope of the inventive concept is defined by the following claims
and their equivalents.
* * * * *